African and Caribbean

Times have been rough for BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM).
In fact, according to market researcher NPD Group, RIM's U.S. share of
the smart phone market dropped drastically from 44 percent in 2009 to 10
percent in 2011. Despite this plunge, the company still has 78 million
active subscribers worldwide.

Struggling with a chronically stagnant economy, Jamaica is turning for help to a black
nationalist leader who died more than 70 years ago. Marcus Garvey, who inspired millions of followers worldwide with
messages of black pride and self-reliance, is being resurrected in a new civics program in schools across this predominantly black
country of 2.8 million people.

With so much going on in Africa, it may be the apropo time for such an event as Kilombo 2012, which
will focus on Africa, Africans and social justice. Set to be an annual
event and the first will, say the organizers, lay the foundation for
launching the Kilombo Centre for Civil Society and African
Self-Determination. The event, which is also a festival for the ending
of neo-colonialism in Africa, will take place in Ghana, September 14-16,
2012. Organizers are expecting attendees from U.S., UK, Namibia, and
Sierra Leone.

In many African countries, Internet access is either too expensive for
or unavailable to the general population. But Google has launched a new servicethat
allows those in a few African nations to text globally through its free
email service provided by Google, Gmail.

With Broadband, Internet service is not only faster but less expensive
allowing more people to jump onboard the Web Express. And now the
African nations of Namibia and Botswana have Broadband. The countries recently linked up to an 8,700 mile-underground
cable system that provides faster and cheaper Internet connectivity.